of the united states on this issue? and are we -- i ask my colleagues, are we for the first time in 50 years, first time in 50 years not going to pass and send to the president's desk for signature a defense authorization bill? instead, we'll go back and forthwith filing cloture and amendments which will be allowed and not allowed, fill up the tree, blah, blah, blah, and yet the majority leader of the united states senate cannot take up the national defense authorization bill, the most important piece of legislation that this body considers, and it may be for the first time in 50 years. we must address the issue of sequestration. i again commit to making compromises, to doing things that i otherwise would not agree to, because we cannot allow this train wreck to endanger the lives of our citizens to take place. and don't take my word for it. take the word of the secretary of defense appointed by the president of the united states and our uniform chiefs appointed by the president of the united states with the advice and